Officer’s Alleged Killer Was a Recently Paroled Gang Member

The man who allegedly killed Los Angeles Police Officer Brian E. Brown was an Inglewood gang member and a recently paroled felon, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Oscar Zatarain, 23, who was shot to death in a gun battle with police Sunday night, was released from custody four months ago after serving roughly half of an 11-year sentence for attempted murder, records show.

“It’s abhorrent that a violent criminal does only half of his sentence,” said Dave Hepburn, president of the LAPD’s police officer union. “It’s a matter of public policy. We need to make it a priority to keep these kind of criminals locked away for their entire sentence.”

Hepburn and most LAPD officers were still reeling Tuesday from the weekend’s violent sequence of events that left Brown--the single father of a 7-year-old son--dead.

“This is tough on everybody,” Hepburn said.

At the LAPD’s Pacific Division, where the 27-year-old Brown worked as a field training officer, the lobby was packed with dozens of flower arrangements from grieving residents and officers. Other people donated money and toys for Brown’s son, Dylon, who walked through the hallway of the hospital where his father was pronounced dead early Monday, asking people: “Why did my daddy have to die?”

At their weekly meeting Tuesday, police commissioners observed a moment of silence in Brown’s honor. Commission President Edith Perez, who had visited the crime scenes Sunday night, said the shooting was a deplorable act.

“It’s very hard for a 7-year-old to understand why his dad will never come home,” she said, as her voice shook.

Police say that Zatarain and another man had just killed a young man in Mar Vista late Sunday, when Brown and his partner saw them fleeing. After a short chase, Zatarain opened fire on police with an assault rifle, fatally striking Brown in the head. Zatarain was mortally wounded by other officers at the scene. His alleged accomplice ran away, stole a taxi parked at a nearby store and led police on another short chase that ended at Los Angeles International Airport. The suspected accomplice was shot several times as he tried again to run away.

On Tuesday, police continued to refuse to release the identity of the second suspect, citing their ongoing investigation. Since the suspect is still recuperating at a hospital from his injuries, police have not yet officially booked him on murder charges, as they say they plan to do.

Police also said they still have not been able to identify the young man whom Zatarain and his partner allegedly killed. As a result, police said, they have not determined the motive for that shooting. Coroner’s officials said the dead man’s fingerprints did not turn up in any records available to police in Los Angeles County, indicating that he has no criminal record here.

The same could not be said for Zatarain.

According to court records, Zatarain pleaded guilty in March 1993 to attempted second-degree murder and use of a handgun in an apparent gang-related attack. He was sentenced to an 11-year term, to be served at the California Youth Authority because of his age.

Court files show that Zatarain’s victim was a 14-year-old boy who said he did not know Zatarain. According to the victim’s testimony, he was walking to a friend’s house in Lennox one summer evening when Zatarain drove slowly by and flashed a gang sign. The victim said he nodded his head and continued walking, but heard the car stop. He said Zatarain got out, came toward him and started shooting.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds in the left side of his head, his side and his back. A month later, the boy said he was walking on Inglewood Avenue, when Zatarain and four companions again saw him and started chasing him. The boy said he was able to escape a second attack.

Zatarain, who was identified as an “Inglewood 13” gang member, was held at Juvenile Hall after his arrest. He was put in detention on several occasions for unruliness and gang fights, records show. Juvenile Hall authorities finally asked the court to transfer him to Los Angeles County Jail and he was transferred, the records show.

Department of Corrections officials said Zatarain was released from custody July 22.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, police completed funeral arrangements for Brown. A viewing will be held Thursday at the Old North Church at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the same location.